IllustrationEXHAUST MANIFOLD CRACKED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED.
2008 Chevrolet Trailblazer
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Trailblazer years
Owner complaints for the 2008 Chevrolet Trailblazer are substantially higher than the model-year median of 87.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Trailblazer years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
250–25K
2125–50K
4250–75K
3675–100K
27100–150K
18150K+
169 reports with mileage · 24 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Electrical System. Review the 65 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 33 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
10 crash reports11 fire reports8 injury reports
Engine complaints
21 reportsPURCHASED THIS VEHICLE FROM A DEALER. THE NEXT DAY THE TRUCK WAS DEAD. IT HAS SINCE HAD THE BATTERY REPLACED 3 TIMES. THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD CRACKED AT 82,000. THE NUMBER 4 POSITION ON THE BLOWER DOES NOT WORK. THE STABILTRAK LIGHTS COME ON FOR NO REASON AND GO OFF FOR NO REASON. WITH ALL OF THE COMPLAINTS, SOMETHING SHOULD BE DON…
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PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE FROM A DEALER. THE NEXT DAY THE TRUCK WAS DEAD. IT HAS SINCE HAD THE BATTERY REPLACED 3 TIMES. THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD CRACKED AT 82,000. THE NUMBER 4 POSITION ON THE BLOWER DOES NOT WORK. THE STABILTRAK LIGHTS COME ON FOR NO REASON AND GO OFF FOR NO REASON. WITH ALL OF THE COMPLAINTS, SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE. *TR
WAS DRIVING AND SUDDENLY THE EXHAUST GOT REAL LOUD. TOOK IT TO REPAIR FACILITY AND THEY SAID THAT THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD HAD CRACKED. GM KNOWS THIS IS A BAD PART , AND A SAFETY PART, BUT THEY ONLY ADVANCED THE WARRANTY 20,000 MILES. I HAVE NEVER HAD AN EXHAUST MANIFOLD CRACK ON ANY VEHICLE, BESIDES ONE THAT IS 6 YEARS OLD. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY AND STARTED TO SMOKE. THE VEHICLE WAS MERGED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WAS UNABLE TO BE STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MA…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY AND STARTED TO SMOKE. THE VEHICLE WAS MERGED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WAS UNABLE TO BE STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. UPDATED 2/9/15*CN THE CONSUMER STATED A ROD BURST THROUGH THE OIL PAN AT 50,000. THE VEHICLE NEEDED THE ENGINE TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 10/6/2015*JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE GOING DOWNHILL AT 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, HOWEVER THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAI…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE GOING DOWNHILL AT 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, HOWEVER THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED AND ALL OF THE WARNING INDICATORS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHO RECOMMENDED THE REPLACEMENT OF THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED AND ALL OF THE WARNING INDICATORS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHO RECOMMENDED THE REPLACEMENT OF THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.
STARTED VEC. IN THE MORNING. EXHAUST VERY LOUD. CHECKED EXHAUST SYSTEM FOUND MANIFOLD CRACKED. GOT ON ON STAR ACCT...STATED EXTENDED COVERAGE HAD EXPIRED. FOUND OUT SPECIAL COVERAGE GM BULL. #11150. CONTACTED DEALER. STATED NOT COVERED DUE TO OUT OF MILEAGE RANGE OF 120000 LIMIT. SAID TO TAKE TO SERV. MGR AND SAID OUT OF HIS HA…
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STARTED VEC. IN THE MORNING. EXHAUST VERY LOUD. CHECKED EXHAUST SYSTEM FOUND MANIFOLD CRACKED. GOT ON ON STAR ACCT...STATED EXTENDED COVERAGE HAD EXPIRED. FOUND OUT SPECIAL COVERAGE GM BULL. #11150. CONTACTED DEALER. STATED NOT COVERED DUE TO OUT OF MILEAGE RANGE OF 120000 LIMIT. SAID TO TAKE TO SERV. MGR AND SAID OUT OF HIS HANDS. CONTACTED GM AND NOW THEY ARE WORKING WITH ME TO HELP RESOLVE ISSUE. TOLD GM I HAVE NEVER RECV. ANY INFO ABOUT THIS PROBLEM WHEN I BOUGHT THIS TRAILBLAZER. WILL FUMES ENTER PASS. AREA. DON'T KNOW AT THIS POINT. SAFETY ISSUE...YES, RECALL ISSUE...YES, DESIGN ISSUE...YES. *JS
WHILE SITTING THE PARKED VEHICLE, WITH THE KEY IN IGNITION IN THE ON POSITION BUT ENGINE OFF THE DASH BEGAN TO POUR SMOKE INTO THE VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTING UNDER THE HOOD THERE WERE BURNED AND MELTED WIRES LEADING TO FUSE BOX. ELECTRICAL FIRE OCCURRED. *TR
SEEMS TO BE A LOT OF OTHERS WITH THIS PROBLEM. GM SHOULD CONSIDER A RECALL. PEOPLE DON'T HAVE &500-$600 LAYING AROUND. AND THERE ARE MANY WITH SAME YEAR MAKE AND AROUND SAME MILEAGE WITH THIS PROBLEM. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER ENGINE STARTUP, THE EXHAUST BECAME ABNORMALLY LOUD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO CONFIRMED THAT THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD WAS CRACKED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT RE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER ENGINE STARTUP, THE EXHAUST BECAME ABNORMALLY LOUD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO CONFIRMED THAT THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD WAS CRACKED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 76,000.
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1RQ17002 · Loss Of Headlights
Opened Apr 24, 2017 · Closed Mar 29, 2021
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting:headlights
The subject vehicles are model year (MY) 2002-2009 Chevrolet Trailblazer, GMC Envoy, 2004-2007 Buick Rainier, 2003-2008 Isuzu Ascender, 2005-2009 Saab 9-7X, 2002-2004 Oldsmobile Bravada, 2003-2006 Chevrolet SSR, 2005-2009 Buick Lacrosse, and 2006-2008 Pontiac Grand Prix. This scope includes the Trailblazer/Envoy variants: 2002-2006 Envoy XL/Trailblazer EXT and 2004-2005 Envoy XUV. The original scope of this investigation was expanded to include all vehicles equipped with the subject Headlight Driver Module (HDM). The focus of the investigation was to determine whether actions performed by General Motors adequately addressed any unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety in the subject vehicles concerning the headlights and the HDM that controls them.Under normal electrical load and environmental conditions, the HDM can overheat inside the Underhood Electrical Center (UEC). This can cause the module to fail and result in a simultaneous loss of both low beam headlights and both daytime running lights (DRLs), often with no warning or prior detectability to the driver. This failure can be intermittent or permanent. No other exterior lights are affected. High beams, turn signals, brake lights, and reverse lights are still operational.General Motors addressed this issue with 2 recalls (14V755 & 15V519) and a special coverage program (N172091910). In view of the recalls and special coverage program implemented by GM and the vehicle high beams continuing to operate, ODI has tentatively concluded that the actions taken by GM mitigate any unreasonable risk to safety posed by HDM failure in the subject vehicles.Accordingly, the investigation is closed. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist. The agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by new circumstances.The ODI reports cited above are available for review online at NHTSA.gov under the identification numbers in the attached document.